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I may call myself a patron of the arts.

It is my weakness.

The landscape is a genuine Corot, and though a connoisseur might perhaps throw a doubt upon that Salvator Rosa, there cannot be the least question about the Bouguereau.

I am partial to the modern French school."

"You will excuse me, Mr. Sholto," said Miss Morstan, "but I am here at your request to learn something which you desire to tell me. It is very late, and I should desire the interview to be as short as possible."

"At the best it must take some time," he answered; "for we shall certainly have to go to Norwood and see Brother Bartholomew.

We shall all go and try if we can get the better of Brother Bartholomew.

He is very angry with me for taking the course which has seemed right to me.

I had quite high words with him last night.

You cannot imagine what a terrible fellow he is when he is angry."

"If we are to go to Norwood, it would perhaps be as well to start at once," I ventured to remark.

He laughed until his ears were quite red.

"That would hardly do," he cried.

"I don't know what he would say if I brought you in that sudden way.

No, I must prepare you by showing you how we all stand to each other.

In the first place, I must tell you that there are several points in the story of which I am myself ignorant.

I can only lay the facts before you as far as I know them myself.

"My father was, as you may have guessed, Major John Sholto, once of the Indian Army.

He retired some eleven years ago and came to live at Pondicherry Lodge in Upper Norwood.

He had prospered in India and brought back with him a considerable sum of money, a large collection of valuable curiosities, and a staff of native servants.

With these advantages he bought himself a house, and lived in great luxury.

My twin-brother Bartholomew and I were the only children.

"I very well remember the sensation which was caused by the disappearance of Captain Morstan.

We read the details in the papers, and knowing that he had been a friend of our father's we discussed the case freely in his presence.

He used to join in our speculations as to what could have happened.

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